When it comes to picking out a flea treatment for your pets, you may be overwhelmed with all of the different options available. The most common flea treatments are topical and ingested flea treatments. Two types of flea treatments are Nexgard and Frontline.
Nexgard for dogs is an orally ingested flea treatment while Frontline is applied directly onto the skin. Both are quality flea treatments, but when it comes to putting Nexgard vs. Frontline together, you may not know which is the best for your pet’s situation.
Some pets do better when taking a pill due to having sensitive skin or allergies, while other dogs may not easily take pills and are easier to apply treatment to their skin directly.
Then, there is deciding which flea treatment provides the best control against fleas due to their ingredients and lasting effects. Don’t shoot in the dark and pick a flea treatment that you aren’t sure of, let us help you decide.
We will be comparing and contrasting Nexgard and Frontline in a Frontline vs. Nexgard style to help you see the positives and the negatives of both treatments. By the end of this article, you should have no problem picking out the right flea treatment that fits your pet’s flea needs.
Nexgard Reviews
Now that you have had a brief introduction on the Nexgard flea treatment, it is time to learn more about what makes this oral flea treatment from its competitors. Let’s take a closer look at what makes up a Nexgard pill, so you know how to use this oral flea treatment.
Ingredients
The main flea killing ingredient in a Nexgard pill is called Afoxolaner. Afoxolaner is specifically designed to kill fleas in dogs by disrupting a flea’s central nervous system. Fleas who come in contact with Afoxolaner will cause them to go into hyperexcitation, or overstimulation, that causes death.
Nexgard also contains flavorings that make the pill have a beef flavor that dogs should eagerly want to gobble up.
Is it Safe for Both Puppies and Dogs?
You can use Nexgard on both puppies and dogs, but only if your puppy is over eight weeks of age and weighs more than four pounds. The reason your puppy has to reach the weight and age limit is so to not upset their delicate stomachs.
Can it also be used on Cats?
No, Nexgard should only be used on dogs since the flea killing chemical, Afoxolaner, is not harmful to dogs, but could potentially be harmful to cats.
How effective is the Treatment?
Nexgard can be given to any size of dog or breed, so long as you follow the proper weight dosage. You need to be sure that your dog can keep the pill down for at least an hour for the oral flea treatment to start to take effect.
Once the flea treatment has entered your dog’s system, you should start to see any existing fleas begin to die off within eight hours of the initial ingestion. In about 24 hours, Nexgard should have killed off all of the fleas on your dog and will keep any other fleas from infesting your dog again.
Nexgard has also been proven to kill off Lone Star ticks, Black-legged ticks, American Dog ticks, and Brown dog ticks. Since Afoxolaner is not harmful to dogs, you do not need to give your dog their Nexgard treatment with food; you can give the pill to your dog whenever it is most convenient for you, meal or no meal.
Side Effects of the Treatment?
Side effects caused by Nexgard have been rarely observed.
But, the side effects that have been observed include vomiting, itching, diarrhea, lethargy, lack of appetite, and, very rarely, seizures.
It is recommended to apply caution when giving this oral flea treatment to dogs who have a history of seizures or epilepsy.
How often does the Treatment Need to be done?
Nexgard only needs to be administered once every 30 days as it provides a full month of protection. You must let Nexgard finish its 30-day treatment before applying another dose.
If you can, try to administer Nexgard on the same day of each month to be sure that the flea treatment is out of your dog’s system before giving them another dose.
Frontline Reviews
Frontline is different from Nexgard as it is a topical flea treatment, not an oral one. Frontline is still highly effective against fleas, which we will explain how in our Frontline review.
Ingredients
Frontline uses two bug-killing ingredients to manage any flea and tick infestation. The first ingredient is Fipronil, which is a broad-spectrum insecticide that can kill adult fleas and ticks when ingested or through contact by hyper-stimulating their nervous system.
The second ingredient, (S)-methoprene, is an insect growth regulator that targets the egg and larvae stage of fleas to prevent them from developing into adults.
Is it Safe for Both Puppies and Dogs?
Frontline is safe for adult dogs and for puppies who are at least eight weeks of age.
Can it also be used on Cats?
Frontline can also be used on cats, but they have their own recommended dosage. To ensure that you are giving the proper treatment to your pet, go by their species and then by their weight range.
How effective is the Treatment?
Once Frontline has been applied to your pet, fleas should start being killed off in about four hours. In about 12 hours, all of the fleas should have been killed off your pet.
One of the highlights of Frontline is that the flea does not have to bite your dog to be killed. Frontline is absorbed into your dog’s skin and brought back out through your dog’s natural skin oils, so any flea that touches your dog’s skin oils will soon be killed off.
You do need to be sure your dog avoids getting wet for 24 hours so that Frontline can be adequately absorbed into your dog’s body.
Side Effects of the Treatment?
The most common reaction a dog may have to Frontline is an allergic reaction to one of the chemicals in Frontline.
If your dog is swelling, itching or the area of skin where the treatment was applied is red and irritated, take your dog to their vet to get treatment for the allergic reaction. In extreme cases, Frontline can also cause excessive salivation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or seizures.
How often does the Treatment Need to be done?
Frontline provides your pet with reliable flea protection against current and any future fleas for a full 30 days. It is not ideal to reapply the flea treatment until the month has completely ended. If possible, try to administer Frontline on the same day of each month.
Applying Frontline is easy, so less hassle and stress for both you and your dog. To apply Frontline, part your pet’s hair between their shoulder blades until you see their skin.
Then, press the tip you have snapped off against their skin and squeeze gently, rubbing the applicator against your pet’s skin, until the applicator is empty. It is best to administer the treatment on the same spot each month to ensure quality control.
Bottom Line
As you can see, Frontline and Nexgard are two different yet highly effective flea treatments. Both use pet safe, but flea deadly, chemicals that will start to kill off any current fleas on your pet in only a few hours.
The chemicals that Frontline and Nexgard use are different, but they both target the flea’s nervous system by overstimulating them until they are killed. Both flea treatments also stop eggs and flea larvae from developing further into adult fleas.
They are both safe to be given to puppies, so long as the puppy is over eight weeks old; this is to ensure that your puppy has developed a strong enough immune system to combat flea bites.
If your dog is on either flea treatment, they do not have to be bitten by the fleas to kill them off; fleas will start to die off through contact alone. Since both flea treatments are of such high quality, you only need to apply the treatment to your dog once every 30 days for proper and healthy maintenance.
If you see fleas start to show themselves more after the flea treatments, which is normal since the fleas are being pushed up out of their control, so you should have no problem picking or combing off the irritating fleas.
The only main difference between Frontline and Nexgard is the way that the flea treatments are administered. Frontline is topical while Nexgard is orally ingested. Both have their ups and downs, though.
Frontline is easier to administer on your dog’s skin, but you do risk your dog having an allergic reaction, and you need to be sure that the treatment is completely dry since it is an oil and can cause stains.
Nexgard is made to have an appealing flavor, so dogs will not feel like they are taking a medicine, or you do not have to force-feed your dog the flea treatment. But, if your dog does not keep the pill down for at least an hour, then the flea treatment will have no effect, and you risk your dog getting an upset stomach due to the flea treatment.
But, so long as you are appropriately giving your pet their flea treatment, which means going by the weight chart and application guidelines, either flea treatment should make a significant impact in stopping any current flea infestations and preventing another outbreak from happening again.
For removing fleas from newborn puppies, read our detailed guide.
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